This essay examines the visual representations of working-class masculinity portrayed in Stephen Daldry‟s stage musical adaptation of the film Billy Elliot (2000). After a brief discussion of the portrayal of the male ballet dancer in the dancing scene since the 1990s and the inherent voyeuristic inclinations of contemporary audiences, the analysis will focus on five aspects of male presence in Billy Elliot the Musical (2005). The dynamics of working-class masculinity will be contextualised within the framework of the family, the older female, the community, the self and the act of dancing itself. These aspects will be referenced using reviews of the musical version of the work and articles written on the film of Billy Elliot. However, have today‟s audiences conditioned their gendered gaze to allow for the male ballet dancer to dominate the contemporary stage? Or do we still control our social perceptions and cultural associations with out-of-date images of the past? Have popular perceptions about the male ballet dancer changed? Is there a birth of a new male dancer phenomenon?

However, have today‟s audiences conditioned their gendered gaze to allow for the male ballet dancer to dominate the contemporary stage? Or do we still control our social perceptions and cultural associations with out-of-date images of the past? Have popular perceptions about the male ballet dancer changed? Is there a birth of a new male dancer phenomenon?Even if nineteenth-century ballet became „so concerned with the display of female bodies that male characters became almost an impossibility. The film Billy elliot changing the popular assumptions that ballet as a masculine activity is a suspect phenomenon, this proves the point that male ballet is a much more complex activity than just that.

Popular perceptions and attitudes like „real boys don‟t go to dance classes‟,are beginning to disappear. More boys are now dancing and through their...

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...BILLYELLIOT
Film Metalanguage
Juxtapositioning – the organisation of scenes so that their differences made comment – eg. gloomy interior of the Elliot kitchen and the light and grace of the Ballet School auditorium
Motif – the reception of an image (or piece of music) throughout a text contribute meaning to the work eg doors in BillyElliot
Segue – the imperceptible movement from once scene to another
Mise-en-scene – French term – putting into the scene – the composition of a scene or shot eg the Elliot’s kitchen details, lighting tell a lot about the family life
Establishing sequence – the opening moments of a film – introduces themes, characters, setting mood
Reaction shot – generally a close-up of a character reacting to someone or something
Proxemic range:
 Intimate distance (extreme close shots): ranges from skin contact to about eighteen inches away. This is the distance of physical movement – of love, comfort, and tenderness between individuals.
Personal distance (medium close shot): Ranges roughly from eighteen inches to about four feet away. This distance tends to be reversed for friends and acquaintances rather than lovers or members of a family.
Social distance (medium and full shot): Ranges from four feet to about twelve feet. These are the distances usually reserved for impersonal business and casual social gatherings.
Public distance (extreme long shot): Extend from twelve...

...BillyElliot
Traditional ideas about stereotypical gender roles can be challenged or supported with different characters and environments. The visual text BillyElliot was created in 2000 and directed by Stephen Daldry. The film is about an 11 year old boy (BillyElliot) who tries to pursue a career in Ballet despite negative stereotyping. Billy must overcome many obstacles in his path including his stereotypical father and brother who are convinced that men cannot do Ballet. BillyElliot demonstrates that traditional masculinity is restrictive and makes men feel trapped. He does this by following his dreams to be a ballet dancer proving that he could still be masculine and successful. Topics such as symbolism, setting, characterisation and stereotyping will be discussed in this essay.
Billy, the main character of the film BillyElliot is a symbol of change and freedom not only in his family but in the community in which he lives. In the visual text, Billy must break free and be who he wants to be. In the world he lives in, men are trapped and there is no tolerance for diversity and male ballet dancers. Billy brings a sense of change into the film as he leads his family to become more tolerant and respectful. He is successful in a way that Jacky(father) learns that stereotyping...

...﻿Social Exchange Theory:
This theory is based on the idea that in relationships benefits must outweigh cost to have a compatible relationship. In the movie of BillyElliot, this is extremely obvious in the relationship of Billy and Mrs. Wilkinson. These two put in time and effort so that they can reap the benefits later in the movie, Mrs. Wilkinson teaches Billy how to dance for free during her free time. She wishes nothing more then for him to succeed and in turn he lives out the dream she never could. In the opposite, Billy works hard because he see’s that Mrs. Wilkinson’s dream was never achieved and he wishes to do well not only for himself but for her as well. He also sees that if he does well, he will later be able to use his talents to make a living while doing what he enjoys. In both situations the work put into the relationship between the two is outweighed by the benefits which come from the effort put in. This is also very obvious in the the strike itself, the union feels as if the costs of working are not worth what they get in return so they decided it was time to do something about it. On the other hand, the government feels the opposite, in that the work the minors put in is either equal to the benefits or more then what they deserve to have. The government also feels that even without the striking men they still receive what they need for the remaining workers, so their needs are being...

...Barron
Mrs. De Gagné
ENG3U1-14
October 17, 2014
BillyElliot: Close Analysis Assignment
The “angry dance” scene takes place after Billy’s brother spent the night in jail and Billy missed his audition. The camera angles in this scene are used to in a very interesting way. Everyone starts off in the kitchen where the camera is on all of them and moving around the room every now and then. Tony lifts Billy onto the table and tries to make him dance, however, Mrs. Wilkinson tells Billy not to. When the argument between Mrs. Wilkinson and Tony Elliot intensifies the camera angle change. The angle changes to give the audience Billy’s point of view. This is achieved with the camera looking down on Tony and Mrs. Wilkinson and Jack. As the argument continues the camera shifts to close ups on Tony and Mrs. Wilkinson showing the audience the amount of anger and emotion that is being displayed on their faces. This also shows that Billy is almost starting to ignore the argument around him, trying to find an escape in his mind. The scene then shifts to Billy doing his “angry dance” outside. The camera angles constantly change throughout his dance starting at birds eye view and changing to close ups on his face. The close ups are used in the same way as before-to show emotion. The camera angles allow us to see different aspects of his dance specifically when the camera does a...

...BillyElliot – Into the World
There are a variety of pathways and elements, which enables individual transition into a New World. ‘Into the World’ is about people choosing the next pathway into their life by their own determination, experiences and support which enables them to go beyond their original location and narrow view of the world. ‘BillyElliot’ relates to the elective ‘Into the World’ as the film is about new possibilities opening up, determination, family support and individual growth. Two related texts that show other kinds of transitions into new worlds include an article on the Queensland School of Excellence titled ‘Pas de deux’ from the ‘Australian Educator’ on the 03/05/04 and a documentary by a Youth Program called ‘Typo Station’ from Sunday Sunrise. To demonstrate different pathways into a new world, these three texts use different types of techniques.
The film BillyElliot is a social drama as it deals with a variety of social issues such as poverty and class. It is about a young boy who has grown up in a poor community and a world of rules and traditions. During Billy’s boxing lesson, he discovers that he has talent in ballet dancing. Contrast is then used by the camera panning past many pairs of dainty ballet slippered feet before settling on Billy wearing his boxing boots. This shot reinforces the idea that Billy is different, and...

...of Into the World conveyed in the film BillyElliot?
‘Into the World’ describes a concept of a growth and change experienced by an individual – whether the change is physically, emotionally or intellectually- from the transition between one stage to another. In this transition there are often barriers and obstacles which the individual faces and needs to overcome. The notion of ‘into the world’ is clearly displayed in the film BillyElliot (2000) directed by Stephen Daldry.
The film BillyElliot set in Durham, England during the context of the miners’ strike of 1984-1985, examines the story of one boy’s dream to become a professional dancer. The eponymous character BillyElliot transitions as he develops from a stereotypical mining town status to a ballet dancer. Throughout the film, the exploration of Billy growing up and advancing into the wider world is shown, as he struggles against the gender expectations of his working class community and the socioeconomic situation that the miners’ strike has put his family in. It is not merely a physical journey but also an inner journey where Billy and his family and friend’s perspectives about themselves and their worlds shift.
An individual’s determination to pursue a dream can inspire them to challenge society’s expectations as they transition into a new world. Daldry portrays how...

...Representations of Gender – BillyElliot
In the movie “BillyElliot” there is many representations of gender. The characters challenge and reinforce certain stereotypes shown and the audience is positioned to respond in a particular way.
PLOT
This story is set in a mining town just outside of London. A young boy, Billy, has a passion and talent for dance that drives him to defy all the social and cultural rules in his world. By following his dream Billy challenges the stereotype for boys in the mining town. During the journey his family’s struggle for money to support each other is shown. Billy’s life takes you on many twists and turns as he works his way to the top.
FILM CODES
One of the most powerful symbolic codes in the film is in the scene where Billy and Mrs. Wilkinson are talking in the boxing ring. The lighting is dark where they are but bright in the distance. This darkness symbolizes the dullness in his life and the brightness that contrasts represents a bright hope for the future. Through placing the characters in the ring allows the audience to see Billy’s longing to move away from the stereotype and find his own path. Stereotypically boys are assumed to be arrogant, loud and take pleasure in “manly” sports such as boxing. Billy challenges this by creating a reflective and soft mood. One of the aural codes, music, enhances this soft...